The Dirty Ones

Name: The Dirty Ones
SKU: 86982
Availability: InStock

4.4 | 1,086 ratings

Price: 26.24

Last update: 06-30-2024

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer

Great story

Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2020

Maybe some vague “spoilers”

I really enjoyed this story and could not put it down!
There were a couple things that I didnt like but all the good erased the bad. First, I was so frustrated with Hayes not telling the others what he knew when they were gathered in the 3rd floor library. I just wanted to shake him and yell “spit it out man!” The non-stop interruptions during the conversations were becoming annoying and totally predictable. The characters would just get into good conversation and after this happening a couple different times, i knew the scene was going to end before the reader finds out anything. Kept Happening throughout the entire book. Like “hey guys remember when we <did this, went there, said that>? Well, what actually happened.... “< phone rings, text comes through, arrive at destination, etc>. I started holding my breath when something could maybe be be revealed only to exhale a long sigh when the inevitable interruption came. It really took me out of the story. It was anticipation laced with dread the more it kept happening. Why didnt the characters notice this and fast talk the information in one breath before the damn phone rang?? Lol!
The second thing was the whole Emily disappearance at Hayes mall of america “home”. It seemed like a bad joke. Didnt fit the story. It was almost comical and so completely unrealistic. What was actually happening? Did Hayes just bring all the cops and K9s in to “hunt down Emily” in order to trick the group to keep them together? To lock them in the library to discuss what happened? Thanks to all the interruptions and stalling, nothing came out of the whole scheme anyway. Emily could have just been taken back to the hospital after her little scene at the mansion. Could have still had dining room dinner and library talk without “Emily threat”. It felt forced, contrived, very inconsistent, and been-there-read-that-before. I’m sorry but JAH is a WAY better author than this. Maybe I am missing something and several days from now I will “get it” and feel bad That I was critical.
Lastly, the ending was too quick. I wish there was a little more meat to the reveal and resolution. I appreciate the author writing that she doesnt even know what parts of the year were true and what was planted in memories. I guess I wanted it all revealed somehow. I love thinking about a book for days after and missing the characters. I just hate when I have a lot of BIG questions that have no answers so the book can’t “settle” in my mind.
Regardless of these 3 things, I loved this book and most likely will read it again. The idea was awesome and the characters and world were very complete. Some story elements and scenes I could have done without but they are minor and occur at the beginning (except interruptions- thats the whole book) so they are easy to forget.
Thank you JAH for a great story!!

Crystal S.

3.5 stars

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2022

3.5 stars
I really loved the "WTF is going on" feeling that I had for most of this book. That is pretty much the norm for me when I read books by this author. She has this way or writing that draws you in, and even when you don't know what's going on, you are still enjoying the story. I love that kind of storytelling, as well as that feeling.

Unfortunately, once everything was revealed, I felt a bit let down but the explanation. And there absolutely wasn't enough of the smut, both between our main characters, and regarding details with The Dirty Ones. It was certainly a big twist, but it seemed to me like a bit of a cop-out. I can't explain why without giving spoilers, so I'll just leave it there. Overall, it was a twisted and entertaining story, just not as good as I wanted it to be.

Wendy LeGrand

Some of JA Huss' most mind bending work yet!!

Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2018

After finishing reading The Dirty Ones, the first word that popped into my head was the British term, Gobsmacked. That was after sitting there speechless for a bit, mind whirling so much at the same time. Picture a whirling cloud over my head, twisting like a tornado, filled with nothing but words, but they're all swirling around so fast that your brain can't land on just one. So I sat for a bit, just trying to quiet the riot in my head until everything went calm, and the first word that floated down was Gobsmacked.

Julie truly is the queen of the mindf#ck. She posted a video in her reader group this weekend where she pretty much summed up this book. It is mind bending, and mind f#cky. Her words, not mine. But mine are pretty much the same. This book will truly take you on a journey of wondering what the f#ck is really happening. Who is telling the truth. Who's forgotten everything. Why were these particular students chosen for "whatever" it was they experienced.

This story starts out ten years after the events that happened to this group of people, with a book that's hit the NY Times bestseller list. A book that details everything they went through, everything they all promised they would never talk about. So who wrote the book? And why now?

Julie is a master at dropping the reader into a story that from the very beginning has you wondering, what the heck is going on? And the characters in the book are also asking, what the heck is going on? There's just enough information made available to them to keep them going forward, looking for all the answers, but the answers are only coming to them in small bits and pieces at a time. It's SO maddening, like that carrot that dangles in front of the hungry donkey to keep them moving forward. There is so many layers woven into this story. Even though it's told from only two points of view, you feel like you are getting all of the points of view of those involved and it kind of became a game of clue, like the character Camille jokes about. "Will Mrs. Peacock kill us with the candlestick in the library? Or the wrench in the billiard room?"

I don't really think I can articulately even tell you much about the story without spoiling plot points so I'll just say, this book really is a guessing game all the way through. I highlighted so many things to try to keep track of what I thought were clues, I should probably do a reverse search of what I didn't highlight if I don' want my Kindle to explode.

I will mention, because it is very worth mentioning, that this book IS about The Dirty Ones. It is about sex and erotica and doing dirty things. "We are The Dirty Ones and this is our truth." I would be remiss if I didn't talk about the sex. Julie has always, always been one of my favorite authors to read about the SEX. She can write sex like no one else. Holy crap... Talk about living vicariously through a group of fictional people! Yeah, it's hot.

This is some of Julie's best writing yet. It is intense and complex and mind blowing and hot and thrilling and mysterious. I know I will reread it countless times, but I need to give my mind a break for a while before I delve in again!!

ShootNShopGirl

3.5* Not really romance

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2021

I could have sworn I’ve read her books and they were romance. This one isn’t. It’s more of a mystery/ friendship book. It’s not bad, but I kept waiting for H& h to have their moments and when they did, it wasn’t what I would expect. There are a few hot scenes, but that’s not the thrust of the story (oops, pun).

I really took a star off because it seemed like no one said anything...they all talked around the subject or in code. Drives me bonkers! Just take 10 minutes already! But then you wouldn’t have a book, except the plot premise is REALLY GOOD and could have been a true suspense /mystery book if taken in that direction. As it is, it’s just a bit muddled. When I finished the book, I just said, Eh, is that all? A bit underwhelmed. I’ll try a few of her other books and not make a judgment based in this one alone.

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